The 13 Most Comfortable Sneakers for Women That Money Can Buy, According to PureWow Editors

SEO Editor Marissa Wu will readily admit she’s not a fan of casual sneakers—that is, until she tried this Birkenstock pair. “I’ll literally never wear another sneaker,” she says. What is it that makes them such a stellar pick? For starters, they have a very roomy toe box and super-comfortable cork footbed. “This is the widest toe box I’ve ever seen by far,” explains Wu, “mimicking the sandal design, and after walking at least 20 miles in these shoes, I can still report that I haven’t had any chafing or blisters on my toes or bunions. Neither have my arches spilled ungracefully over the sides of the shoes.” As with the brand’s sandals, sizing can sometimes be a bit tricky, but Wu says the size chart was incredibly helpful and landed her with her best size on the first attempt. All in all, these sneakers (which also come in a range of chic solid hues) are a spectacular choice for an every shoe that will go with just about everything in your wardrobe.

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 4-4.5 to 12-12.5
• Available Widths: medium/narrow and regular/wide
• Materials: leather upper, rubber sole

Ever since launching in 2016, Rothy’s has made a name for itself with its ridiculously comfy shoes you don’t have to be precious with. Even Meghan Markle is a fan of the brand’s OG flats. “I am consistently impressed with Rothy’s shoes, both for the comfort level and ease of care,” says Director of Special Projects and Royals, Rachel Bowie. “I’ve had multiple pairs of shoes, flats and sneakers, for a few years now and they still look brand new.” The knit uppers, made from recycled water bottles, are particularly notable for their comfort right out of the box, so you don’t have to worry about blisters or skin irritation. They’re also incredibly breathable and can be tossed in the wash once you remove the midsole (though Rothy’s recommends skipping the dryer), a bonus for those who don’t want to bother with socks.

Wu is also a fan of these easy slip-on kicks. “They’re easy to pair with lots of outfits, washable, made of recycled plastic and have a sturdy footbed, which is essential for my flat feet,” she explains. “I’d say they run a little narrow but the material is super flexible so for me it’s a good compromise between style and comfort”

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 5 to 13
• Available Widths: medium
• Materials: knit upper, rubber sole

Former Associate Commerce Editor Natalie LaBarbera is obsessed with these chic, everyday shoes. So much so that she owns multiple pairs. “I feel like I'm never not raving over Seavees,” LaBarbera admits, “but I'm truly obsessed with the Cardinal sneakers. I have two different color combos and wear them each multiple times a week. I love that they're stylish enough to wear with everyday clothes but I can also easily go for walks with my dog wearing them. They’re so comfy, thanks to the padding at the ankles and memory foam footbed.” The lining is also made of moisture-wicking materials to help eliminate the risk of blisters or sweaty toes. The Carnival style also reportedly fits true to size, and comes in half sizes, so you can stick with your usual when adding them to your shopping cart.

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 5 to 11
• Available Widths: medium
• Materials: suede and leather upper, rubber sole

These vegan sneakers are incredibly breathable, machine washable and super lightweight so you won’t feel bogged down after a full day on your feet. And, according to Wu, they’re also super roomy, which is great news for anyone with wider feet or bunions. “From the get-go, these [felt like they] were made for wide, flat feet,” raves Wu. “The footbed itself has the most surface area I’ve ever seen in a shoe, meaning my toes can happily splay out. (This feature also makes it incredibly sturdy; I’m prone to tripping but never do in these.) Then, there’s the contoured footbed. Every time I put these on, I can hear my feet do a happy sigh of relief when they get that added arch support. Whether I’m out hiking, exercising or running errands, these sneakers promise all-day comfort.”

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 5 to 11
• Available Widths: medium
• Materials: Tencel Lyocell blend upper, Sweetfoam sugar midsole,

HOKA shoes have become immensely popular over the past few years, beloved for their high levels of cushion and amped-up foam soles. But the crème de la crème appears to be the Clifton style. Numerous runners told me they swear by these shoes, as did frequent walkers and new moms. More than one also mentioned that they’d been turned onto the shoes by medical professionals, who praised the high level of support and roomy toe box. “My podiatrist recommended these to me when I had peroneal tendonitis,” says Senior Director of Brand Partnerships Randee Cerota, “and I’ve been a fan ever since! They are so comfy, offer great support and are also lightweight.” The Clifton has also been spotted on celebs like Kylie Jenner and Gwyneth Paltrow.

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 4 to 12
• Available Widths: regular, wide and extra-wide
• Materials: jacquard upper, EVA foam midsole, rubber outsole

If you’re looking for an everyday running shoe with maximum cushion, Senior Commerce Editor Stephanie Maida highly recommends these ON Running kicks. “Despite their name, and the futuristic look of their ‘monster cushioning,’ the running shoes are much slimmer and sleeker in person than they appear on the website,” says Maida. “I don’t mind a chunky sneaker, but I was pleasantly surprised when I opened them up and discovered just how streamlined they actually are.” She adores the cushioned soles, which are also curved to gently encourage your feet to roll forward as you running, assisting your natural running gait. As she tells me, “I personally enjoy the springiness of the cushion in action; together with the pronounced rocker design (meaning, the forefoot of the sneaker curves slightly upward), the shoes make it so that I’m effortlessly propelled forward as I run, while each step provides a burst of energy.”

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 5 to 11
• Available Widths: medium
• Materials: recycled polyester upper, rubber sole

If you live someplace with heavy or frequent rainfall, a chic waterproof sneaker can be a great alternative to regular rain boots. This Vessi sneaker has the same look as more breathable mesh styles, but is actually fully waterproof thanks to an innovative Dyma-tex material that works to keep rain and water out without making your feet get too overheated. “I’ve been wearing Vessis for about a year now,” says Wu. “The round and wide toe box easily accommodated my wider feet and bunions, plus arch supports. And the waterproofing is great. I accidentally stepped in a huge puddle last winter and the water beaded right off.” Wu especially loves that these sneakers are machine washable for easy care. “Only drawback is, due to the waterproofing, they aren’t the most breathable so your foot does warm up a bit. Not a problem if you have cold feet, though!”

FAST FACTS

• Size range: US 5 to 11
• Available Widths: medium
• Materials: waterproof Dyma-tex knit upper

We all need shoes we can slip on when running out the door, because nothing's worse than being late and literally wrestling your feet into shoes. Former Executive Editor Dara Katz was introduced to slip-on-sneaker brand Kizik and hasn't looked back.

"Kiziks are the rare sneakers that actually live up to their promise—I can step in, sprint out and still have the support to keep up with my kids (and my dog) all day," Katz writes in an in-depth review. "They’ve officially graduated from 'mom hack' to everyday essential. The support around the ankle and foot is so much more substantial than your typical slip-on (as well as my initial expectations!). This is probably because the brand’s whole shtick is their innovations that make the heel resilient enough to compress and spring back up so that the shoes feel 'on' without bending over and lacing them. I’ve clocked 10K steps wearing ‘em, which is a big deal for my yams because I am constantly fighting over-pronated foot pain. Mama needs support, and these, despite being designed with step-in ease, are also supportive. With high-traction sole and super-soft, responsive foam, the Monacos are hands-down the get-out-the-door, walk-the-kids-to-school winner."

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 6 to 13
• Available Widths: standard
• Materials: nylon upper with suede overlays, rubber sole

PureWow Vice President of Editorial Candace Davison isn't a runner, but finds herself wanting to wear the Brooks Ghost 17 running sneakers all day, every day.

"Yes, the sole is thick, but the cushioning is legit. My feet and—especially, my heels and ankles—typically ache at the end of the day, but not when I wear these cushy wonders," she raves. "I literally have more spring in my step, and they're surprisingly lightweight and supportive. I actually prefer them to slippers...and I never thought I'd say that about running shoes. Some say you should size up, but my arches are high and my feet are wide, and I found them to run pretty true to size."

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 5 to 13
• Available Widths: narrow, medium, wide, extra wide
• Materials: E.V.A. insole, nylon lining

Turns out these classic kicks aren’t just super trendy, they’re also super comfortable. Maida loves their relaxed, low-profile look, while former Wellness Director Sarah Stiefvater walked more than 100 miles in them on a recent trip to Europe. Stunningly, she didn’t experience a single blister or bruise.

“I wore this pair exactly once before embarking on my trip, and had nary a blister in 11 days (11 days of a lot of walking),” says Stiefvater. “I also liked the way they looked with nearly everything else I packed, a major win. I had three different pairs of black pants (leather, denim and trousers) and found my Sambas went perfectly with each. I didn’t love the way they looked with a black mini skort and tights, but I’m eager to try styling them with a wider variety of pieces going into the spring. They’re simple enough to not steal focus but I find they add just the right amount of understated cool.”

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 5 to 20
• Available Widths: standard
• Materials: leather upper, suede and gold foil details, rubber sole

In the recent years, trail and outdoorsy sneakers have picked up steam, including Salomon and Onitsuka Tigers. PureWow's Director of Affiliate Strategy, Pam Masin, discovered Keen's Jasper trail shoes after running through all her other "comfortable" sneakers. The fact that the style's been trending emboldened her to style them with her everyday outfits.

"I absolutely love how comfortable and supportive these are. I don't have wide feet, but these shoes have a wide toe box, which makes them more comfortable when you're on your feet for hours," she says. "A big selling point to me was that these are water resistant and have a solid grip. I have solid footing when it rains without having to trek around in bulky rain boots."

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 5 to 11
• Available Widths: standard
• Materials: suede upper, mesh lining, rubber sole

Davison says she normally avoids Nike sneakers, finding them too narrow for her wide feet. However, she ended up falling in love with the Court Legacy sneakers, and they've become the shoes she wears all the time.

"I went up half a size, and I like that the rounded toe bed prevents my toes from feeling squished halfway through the day," she says. "They're great for wearing with jeans, skirts and trousers, when you want a casual-cool vibe, and I can log miles in them without issues. Most similar styles I've tried require moleskin or something around the ankles or back of heel; I haven't had any rubbing or chafing issues, and I've worn them at least twice a week for the past three months. That said, there isn't much arch support, so I'd recommend insoles if you have high arches." 

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 5 to 20
• Available Widths: standard
• Materials: leather upper, suede and gold foil details, rubber sole

Ballet flats got an upgrade, and they've evolved into sporty ballet sneakers. Whenever trends attempt to mesh comfort with style, Wu raises my eyebrows. However, after wearing Birdies' Speedbirds through the subway and to the airport (where she stood in the longest TSA line of her life), she was pleasantly won over.

"They evoke a similar silhouette to Puma's Speedcat, but lean more chic than athletic, which is how I like it," she says. "The shape is a tad narrow for my wide feet, but the leather is supple and stretches easily. Do be warned, however, that my socks ended up stained with the fabric dye used on the interior."

The Speedbirds feature a contoured, anatomic footbed which was immediately apparent to her when slipping them on. The sneakers are crafted from PerfX breathable foam, covered with microsuede. The finishing touch is a pair of ribbon laces with metal tips. After nearly an hour in the airport security line, Wu's feet were a tad tired, but overall her arches were complaining a lot less than expected.

FAST FACTS

• Size Range: US 6 to 12
• Available Widths: standard
• Materials: leather upper, E.V.A. sole